1. Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Chapter 1Adjusting to Student Life

2. Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Orientation Orientation sessions familiarize new students to: –The program’s facilities –Hospital affiliations –Rules and regulations governing conduct –Program’s courses and course content –Student government –Available student resources

3. Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Personal Adjustment Adjusting to student life requires: –Understanding yourself (self-awareness) –Taking care of your physical, emotional, and intellectual needs Counseling may help with adjustment and solving problems

4. Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Your Program Organization and Curriculum Classroom Lectures –Basic nursing and health care theory and principles Clinical Instruction –Provided in a variety of health care settings Basic course curricula for nursing programs

5. Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Your Program Program Structures Program Objectives –School’s objective –Administration’s objective –Instructor’s objective Students’ Objectives –Integrate student life with personal life –Become a licensed practical or vocational nurse

6. Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Scheduling Your Time A written schedule is a good way to organize your time so that every hour can be put to its best use. A good schedule should: –Be realistic –Use class schedule as basis for daily scheduling –Be written in a notebook, planner, or on a calendar

7. Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Learning Theory Major Learning Styles Maximize your learning potential by understanding how you process, learn, and retain information. –Tactile/kinesthetic –Visual –Auditory Using preferred learning style improves learning efficiency. Using many senses improves performance.

8. Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Learning Theory Applying Your Learning Style Visual –Pictures, diagrams, videos, and other visuals –Drawing, creating visual imagery Auditory –Listening and reading aloud Tactile/Kinesthetic –Moving, doing, and touching

9. Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Critical Thinking Skills Definition of Critical Thinking Skills Thinking: Clearly Accurately Precisely Relevantly Deeply Significantly Logically Fairly Broadly

10. Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Critical Thinking Skills Reasoning –Making sense of something Inferring –Concluding something is so because something else is so Judging –Forming an opinion that can lead to a decision Logic –Trying to figure things out

11. Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Critical Thinking Skills Developing Critical Thinking Skills Ask questions of yourself Welcome questions from the clinical instructor Applying Critical Thinking Skills “Talk through” what you think your options are Practice –“Think about it” boxes –“Apply the concepts” section in each chapter

12. Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Classroom Instruction Lectures In a lecture, the instructor will: –Clarify reading assignments –Identify important points –Assist in finding relationships Offer students opportunities to ask questions Prepare by completing reading assignments in advance

13. Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Classroom Instruction Listening Being a good listener is one of a nurse’s most useful skills. Doodling, daydreaming, and talking distract from listening To listen effectively: –Fix eyes on speaker’s face –Pay close attention to words –Concentrate and take written notes while you listen

14. Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Classroom Instruction Taking Notes Notes are phrases that capture key points Good notes help to review and remember Main benefit is higher grades Be able to read your own writing and shorthand Absence from class for just 1 day can put you far behind

15. Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Classroom Instruction General Rules Omit unnecessary words Abbreviate words Use outline format Don’t repeat Use different highlight colors Clarify information with instructor

16. Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Classroom Instruction Organization –Notebook with subject dividers Guidelines –Listen to what is being said and avoid distractions. –List the main ideas, facts, and supporting data. –Read and Review your notes after taking them. –Missed class—get notes from a classmate to avoid blanks in your notebook and to keep up with course.

17. Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Classroom Instruction Studying Study Guidelines Set regular times Avoid distractions and interruptions Minimum study time for each subject and class hour Schedule by priorities and revise as needed –Most important subjects first –Hard subjects before easy subjects

18. Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Classroom Instruction Take short rests Study just before and right after class Have all materials on hand before starting Study dissimilar subjects in each session Take advantage of: –Instructor review sessions –Student study groups Get proper rest and nutrition

19. Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Classroom Instruction Computer-Assisted Instruction Important component of nursing education Learning assignments may be required Additional learning programs in library or lab Distance learning –Telephone –Television –Computer technology

20. Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Classroom Instruction Audiovisual Extends the classroom through: –Cable television –Videocassettes –Films –DVDs –CDs –Other visual media Take notes during audiovisual and computer instruction

21. Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Assignments Reading Assignments The SQ3R (survey-question-read-recite-review) method of reading − Survey the chapter or unit − Question what you will be reading − Read by skimming first − Recite aloud or silently − Review the material

22. Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Assignments Writing Assignments Five Steps −Collect the material −Organize and outline reference material  Introduction (states purpose)  Body (states main ideas and details)  Conclusion (states what was said)

23. Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Assignments −Write first draft from beginning to end −Revise and write final draft −Proofread

24. Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Reference Sources Books Learn how to use books to find information you need − Table of contents—lists each chapter title − Indexes—lists specific items in alphabetical order − Appendixes—separate sections of related material found at the back of the book − Glossaries—separate sections listing vocabulary words specific to the book’s topic

25. Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Reference Sources Other Materials Journals (nursing and other health care disciplines) Magazines Pamphlets A/V programs General reference books Computer programs or internet

26. Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Reference Sources Libraries Learning resource centers –Computerized catalog used by every library Computers Excellent resource for gaining access to reference material –CD-ROMs –PDAs

27. Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Reference Sources Allow communication with others –E-mail –Chat rooms Computerized nursing licensing examination The Internet Gives access to a world of information Web sites –Information may or may not be accurate

28. Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Reference Sources Commercial (.com) Web sites Educational (.edu) Web sites Government (.gov) Web sites Organizational (.org) Web sites

29. Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Reference Sources Use Web sites that are organized and easy to use Use Web sites that are frequently updated Be sure the Web site includes name and address of contact person or organization Do textbooks and journal articles support Web site information Qualifications of the people who contribute to the Web site Ask instructor to comment on the quality of a particular Web site

30. Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Taking Tests Test Anxiety Psychological and physical feelings experienced before an examination –A little test anxiety improves performance –Tips to help overcome excessive anxiety –Professional counseling may help for extreme test anxiety

31. Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Strategies for Taking Tests Understand the Directions −Look over the whole exam before answering questions −Understand the relative grading weights of different sections −Differentiate between hard and easy sections or questions −Make a test-taking plan, then proceed with the test − Pay attention to the time to keep to your plan Taking Tests

32. Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Taking Tests Standardized Examinations Show how much of a range of subjects students have learned through all or a portion of their education Compare a student’s knowledge with students around the country Preparing for a Standardized Exam −Complete assignments when scheduled −Apply what you learn in the clinical setting −Take computer — administered exams to prepare for the NCLEX-PN ® exam

33. Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Taking Tests −Don’t cram for the exams −Review a similar test −Read all of the directions before beginning a test Standardized Practical/Vocational Nursing Tests −National League for Nursing (NLN) achievement tests −National Council of State Boards of Nursing NCLEX- PN ® licensing examination.

34. Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Clinical Instruction Arranged by the faculty Students integrate and apply classroom knowledge to patient care Be prepared for clinical Preconference and postconference

35. Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Question Is the following statement true or false? A tactile/kinesthetic learning style involves touching, moving, doing, and handling things.

36. Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Answer False Rationale: Tactile/kinesthetic learning style involves touching, moving, doing, and handling things.

37. Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Question A student’s good schedule should: A. Use work schedule as basis for daily scheduling B. Be written in a notebook, planner, or on a calendar C. Try to include everything that needs to be accomplished.

38. Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Answer B. Be written in a notebook, planner, or on a calendar Rationale: A student’s good schedule should use the school schedule as basis for daily planning, and it should be realistic.

39. Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Question Critical thinking skills include forming an opinion that can lead to a decision. This is known as: A. Reasoning B. Inferring C. Judging D. Logic

40. Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Answer C. Judging Rationale: To make a judgment is to have an opinion.

41. Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Question Is the following statement true or false? Strategies for taking tests include beginning immediately to answer the first question and then proceeding to the last question.

42. Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Answer False Rationale: Look over the entire exam first, differentiate between hard and easy sections, make a test plan, and then proceed with the first question.

43. Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Question When preparing for a standardized exam you should: A. Apply only what you’ve learned in the classroom B. Cram for the exam the night before C. Review a similar test D. Read all of the directions after finishing the test

44. Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Answer C. Review a similar test Rationale: Apply all you have learned in classroom and clinical, never cram for an exam, and read all of the directions before beginning the exam.